RIYADH: Shoura Council President Abdullah Al-Asheikh on Saturday denounced the Iranian move to exploit the annual Muslim pilgrimage for political purposes, saying it would create division among the Ummah and obstruct the smooth performance of Haj rituals.
Responding to the comments made by a number of Iranian officials on Haj this year, Al-Asheikh said the Kingdom would not allow any party to undermine security during the annual pilgrimage and create division among Muslims.
He was referring to the statements by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who recently said that Saudi Arabia might abuse Iranian pilgrims during the Haj, which begins on Nov. 25, 2009. The Shoura chief highlighted the Saudi government’s efforts in serving pilgrims from their arrival in the Kingdom until their departure.
He also referred to the gigantic development projects carried out by Saudi Arabia for pilgrims. These projects included the expansion of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, the construction of the Jamrat Bridge in Mina, and the expansion of the Masaa between Safa and Marwah. “The Saudi government, its leadership and people deem it a great honor from the Almighty to serve the guests of God,” Al-Asheikh said.
He emphasized that the Haj should be free from politics and that pilgrims should concentrate on worship and meditation during their time in the vicinity of the Two Holy Mosques and other holy places.
In a previous statement, Haj Minister Fouad Al-Farsy rejected allegations that Iranian pilgrims would be mistreated during Haj.
“The Kingdom is committed to ensuring protection of all pilgrims and providing them with all facilities,” said Al-Farsy. “Pilgrims from 85 countries come for Haj every year and all of them have commended the Saudi government’s efforts in this regard,” Al-Farsy was quoted by Al-Watan Arabic daily as saying.
